One Puddle, Please

[Ten]

After a... misunderstanding during a rat hunt, Speckledclaw had lashed out at Shorwhisker, leaving him with a bleeding back, and just now Woodstripe had sent him off to wash the wound. It took the tom some time to find a source of water. When he did, he felt wrong wasting the drinkable puddle on his own hide, on which guilt still lingered.

He was a horrible, worthless scrap of fur. It's what his mother had told him, it's what Patchfur told him, and it's what he told himself.

Shortwhisker lied down in the water and rolled over in it. The uneven stone and sharp gravel at the bottom jabbed into his fur.

If only he could find some way to be useful. If only there were someone who wanted his service. But who would? He couldn't participate in anything without ruining it -- be it rat hunt or leadership experiment.

He stood up, dripping, and shook his black and white fur.

If only there were someone who didn't hate him. If only there were someone who didn't sting him with insults and pointed questions and foul assertions and insane "logic". If only someone didn't treat him like the dirt he was.

If only someone loved him.

[Cloud]

Hailpaw was bored. Since Grimykit - that cricketbrain - she'd found no pleasure from another tom. But oh look, here was another one. He looked depressed. Maybe she could cheer him up.

"Heya there, handsome! Why so sad, so sad? Why dontcha go fer a spin with me an' feel betta'?"

The pale gray she-cat giggled.

[Ten]

He jumped and spun to face her. For a second he couldn't say anything, too confused and embarrassed. "I-I... uh... I j-just was... Wh-what? Um..."

His dull eyes widened the moment his brain finished processing what she had just called him, and he looked around for who she must be talking to. "H-handsome...?" He couldn't see any good-looking toms in the immediate area.

Maybe she was one of those cats who yelled to their friends and started conversations from unconventional distances. He felt stupid again for thinking she was talking to him. Idiot.

"Oh, uh, s-sorry, I th-though you m-meant... m-me..."

A good warrior is concerned for the Clan, not himself. Shortwhisker drooped his head.

[Cloud]

Hailpaw rolled her eyes. Wasn't he a smart one. Still, his cute little moment of stupidity made her giggle. "O'course I mean ya, ya silly. Now, do ya wanna go fer a spin o' not?"

[Ten]

Shortwhisker stared at her. "Y-you... think I-I'm..." He lowered his voice to a whisper with nervous glances to the side. "...h-handsome?" In his amazement, he took a few steps toward her, though he had no idea what this "spin" she kept asking about was. "I-I m-mean, really? Um, w-well, y-you're kinda p-pretty, too."

[Cloud]

"O'course, silly kitty!" She giggled. He really was kind of cute, with his black patches everywhere and that little one on his nose. Yes, he was definitely good looking. A bit small, maybe, but then so was she. "Aw, why thank ya. But ya still haven't answered me."

[Ten]

"Oh! I-I'm sorry..." He had messed up again, but somehow, her girlish laughter made it okay. "W-well, you see, I d-don't really kn-know what you mean, but, b-but--" It was of the highest importance that he make up for this lack of knowledge. "--if you t-tell me what to do, I'd be happy to." After a slight pause, he added, "You're nice," in a flat, awkward tone.

[Darky [Megan]]

ooc
... WHAT.
I'm forgetting how annoying Shortwhisker usually is. He really is acting quite like the insecure crush.

Which leads me to realise that we hardly ever see how most of the cats are where politics are not concerned, seeing as the roleplay's main drive is centered around discussion about Clans and whatnot. Take away Shortwhisker's persistent insistence to submit himself to a leader and you get ... this. o-o

Maybe I could stick Redstream in here or something. Or Amberkit. Maybe I have to ask the people on this board for their opinions again.

[Cloud]

OOC: Shortwhisker is just a groveling grown-up emo kid. :C But he's so cute. I think Dottedfoot's chances of liking him are now zip, though, since she looks like she's going to become a Patchfur supporter.

And sure, feel free to stick someone in here. I think Amberkit would be funniest, because Hailpaw would debate whether he was old enough to be asked or not.

[Ten]

ooc|

"He really is acting quite like the insecure crush."
--
He's insecure everything. That's what drives his... er, political passions. He wants others to lead him and do the thinking for him.


"Take away Shortwhisker's persistent insistence to submit himself to a leader and you get ... this."
--
I don't see his personality as any different here. It's just that someone isn't calling him stupid and belittling his beliefs right now.


"I think Dottedfoot's chances of liking him are now zip, though, since she looks like she's going to become a Patchfur supporter."
--
What.


"I think Amberkit would be funniest, because Hailpaw would debate whether he was old enough to be asked or not."
--
Cloud, that's nasty.


Andddd I need a response from Hailpaw.